Recently, Portugal announced its new digital nomad visa for remote workers. Accordingly, you can live and work in Portugal as a remote worker for up to one year. To qualify, you need to be a citizen from outside of the EU and EEA areas. Also, you must earn at least €2,800 monthly.
Along with digital nomads, freelancers and self-employed individuals can get this visa as well. The digital nomads visa can be considered an alternative to the D7 Visa. While the D7 is for passive income earners and retirees, the digital nomad visa aims at remote workers. The visa is valid as of October 30, 2022. It also grants you the right to visa-free travel in the Schengen area.
Let’s delve into the details of this program.
Application For Portugal Nomad Visa
Portugal nomad visa is offered in two categories. You can choose to apply for a temporary stay visa. This lasts one year. Or, you can apply for a residency visa which you can renew for up to five years. When you choose the second option, you can then apply for permanent residency and citizenship after five years.
Temporary-Stay Visa
This visa is particularly designed for digital nomads. The visa allows anyone with documentation of remote employment to live in Portugal while continuing to work remotely for at least €2,800 per month. The visa is valid for one year and can be renewed four times for a total of five years. Furthermore, for the first four years of your stay, you can be charged a 15% tax rate rather than the regular Portuguese 25%. Aside from these prerequisites and benefits, the visa follows the same procedure as the D7 Visa.
D7 Passive Income Visa
This visa was designed for retirees with passive earnings, but it is also perfect for digital nomads and other remote professionals. The initial visa is valid for 120 days, after which you must appear at the SEF (Servico de Estangeiros e Fronteiras) to get a two-year residence permit.
You must show that you have enough earnings from outside the nation to support yourself and any family members. This is equal to a minimum wage of €8,460 per year. If you are bringing a spouse, you must demonstrate an additional 50% (€4,230 per year) and another 30% (€2,538 per year) for a dependent kid.
So, how can you apply for this visa? First, you’ll visit the Portuguese Consulate in your country. If you’re in Portugal, you’ll go to SEF (Portuguese immigration and border services). Then, you’ll indicate proof of income that shows the last three months, and documents related to tax residency. Also, proof of employment is necessary. It can be a contract of employment or proof of self-employment.
To be qualified, remote employees must demonstrate a monthly salary four times the current minimum wage in Portugal, as well as a work contract or evidence of self-employment.
The Cost of Living For Digital Nomads in Portugal
Portugal is a country that is more affordable than many Western European countries. This is one of the reasons that entrepreneurs, freelancers, and expats choose to live here. Affordability applies to many areas in Portugal ranging from transportation to rents. If you live in Lisbon as a couple, you can comfortably live with a monthly budget between €2,000 and €2,500. The current monthly minimum wage in Portugal is €705, however, it will rise to €750 in 2023.
For sure, if you move away from the city centers, you’ll pay less. Silver Coast and Algarve are cheaper than Lisbon, for instance. Also, you can live well here with a monthly budget of €1,500.
In local shops, you pay around €10 for coffee, dessert, and lunch.
Where To Stay in Portugal
As a nomadic visa holder, you may be curious about how to arrange accommodation. You have different options in terms of accommodation. Prices vary depending on the location and type of residential place. Airbnb, Booking.com, and some Facebook groups are the options you can try. In addition to hostels and hotels, you can find rental apartments as well.
Let’s get to know more about these options.
Airbnb
Airbnb apartments are available mostly in Lisbon and Porto. You can also find great Airbnb places to stay in Braga as well. You can negotiate the price especially if you rent the place for a long period.
Booking.com
Booking.com offers various options for digital visa holders. Hotels, apartments, and beach houses are among these options. If you book your accommodation in advance, you may find better deals.
Best Cities To Live in Portugal
Holders of Portugal digital nomad visa are lucky because the country has many beautiful cities to live in. You can live in an urban area like Lisbon and Porto, or a quieter place like the Algarve or Silver Coast.
You can find more about some of these locations below.
Lisbon
The capital city has a lot to offer for individuals who have Portugal remote worker visa. You can find both modernity and tradition in this beautiful city. Lisbon has also become a hub for startups and tech companies. As a result, many entrepreneurs and expats choose to live and work here.
In terms of coworking spaces, you have more options in Lisbon compared to other cities. You can easily meet with other Portugal digital nomads and entrepreneurs here.
Porto
Porto is another beautiful city in Portugal. Like Lisbon, Porto also offers old architecture, cobbled streets, and fun. Accommodation options are various as well. Porto’s wines are also quite famous. You can also reach beaches and surf spots easily. So, you may be sure to enjoy your stay in this lively city. There are various coworking spaces throughout this city as well.
Coimbra
Unlike Lisbon and Porto, Coimbra is a quieter area which may enable you to focus more on your work. The city still offers many bars and restaurants for the ones who want to enjoy it. It’s also a student city because of the universities in Coimbra.
Peniche
Peniche is a town that is very famous in Europe for its surfing spots. So, you can enjoy your time by surfing after working. There are surfing classes for all levels of learners as well.
There are also some coworking spaces in Peniche where you can work and meet with others. Largo is one of the best options for this. Here, you can meet other people who have digital nomad visas.
Best Coworking Spaces For Digital Nomads in Portugal
Many coworking spaces are available for freelancers and digital nomads throughout Portugal. Most of them take place in areas where expats are most located.
You can find some of the best coworking spaces in Portugal below.
- Liberdade229: This is a coworking space located in central Lisbon. The offices here are large and comfortable enough. Also, you can find a kitchen inside.
- Porto i/o: Located in Porto, Porto i/o is a very popular coworking space where many expats meet. Here, some workshops and talks are organized as well. It has four branches in Porto: downtown, the seaside, Douro Riverside, and Santa Catarina.
- The Nest Collective: It’s located in Coimbra, and it’s quite an affordable and elegant one.
- Largo: Largo is a coworking place located in Peniche. It’s situated by the coast where you can enjoy the view.
- Factory Braga: This is a coworking space located in Braga, in the northern part of Portugal. It’s another great place to work and meet with people. There’s also the Factory Digital Academy Training that is held in the evenings. It enables you to develop your career.
- Ocupa Cowork Aveiro: It’s located in Aveiro, and offers free coffee.
Some Tips For Digital Nomads Portugal
As a new Portugal digital nomad, you may need some tips about the country. Let’s start.
If you think of living in Portugal for a long period, it may be useful to open a Portuguese bank account. In this way, you’ll be subject to less burden of currency exchange rates.
Private health insurance is available in Portugal for digital nomads and expats. When you qualify for residency, you can benefit from the state healthcare system as well.
It’s affordable and practical to buy property in Portugal if you wish to stay here for a long period. The country offers an affordable real estate market compared to many European countries.
The Golden Visa Program in Portugal offers an investment program. You may consider this option for an investment route. After making a qualifying investment, you get residency and even citizenship rights after a certain period.
FAQ
How can I become a digital nomad in Portugal?
You need to qualify for certain requirements to get Portugal remote work visa. One of the requirements is to have a minimum salary of €2,800 per month. The other requirement is that you must be national outside of the regions of the European Union and the EEA. EEA stands for European Economic Area.
What are the advantages of the digital nomad visa?
Digital nomad visa Portugal allows you to live in Portugal, and work for your overseas job in Portugal. You may work for a company in any part of the world. If your company allows you to work remotely, you can apply for digital nomads Portugal and enjoy your life here.
Can I get a digital nomad visa as a self-employed individual?
Yes, Portugal allows self-employed individuals to get Portugal nomad visa. The country offers several incentives for individuals who work remotely, or for the ones who want to get residency. The digital nomad visa is one of these schemes to attract remote workers in the country.
In short, the digital nomad visa is a great way if you want to explore a new place while keeping on with your work. You can easily apply and enjoy your time in this beautiful country.
What is the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa?
The Portugal Digital Nomad Visa is an initiative created by the Portuguese government to promote digital nomads and digital entrepreneurship. It allows digital nomads
What are the requirements for the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa?
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In order to be eligible for the digital nomad visa, you must meet all of the following criteria:
• Be over 18 years of age
• Have a digital nomad job/occupation/activity that is legally registered in Portugal
• Be able to prove that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your expenses while in Portugal
• Have a digital nomad insurance plan that is valid in Portugal
• Have an address (hotel, apartment, etc.) in Portugal where you will stay during the duration of your digital nomad visa
• Have an up-to-date passport
• Have a digital nomad visa application form completed and signed by both you and your digital nomad employer
• Show proof of digital nomad employment (contracts, pay stubs, etc).
What are the benefits of the digital nomad visa?
The digital nomad visa provides digital nomads the opportunity to stay and work in Portugal for up to one year. During this time digital nomads can enjoy all the benefits of living in Portugal such as access to top digital nomad-friendly cities, digital nomad coworking spaces, digital nomad events, and digital nomad-friendly digital infrastructure. Additionally, digital nomads can access digital nomad visa perks such as discounted digital nomad insurance and digital nomad visas.
How do I apply for the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa?
The first step in applying for the digital nomad visa is to complete and submit a digital nomad visa application form. This form will require you to provide information about your digital nomad job, digital nomad experience, digital nomad insurance plan, digital nomad address in Portugal, and digital nomad employment proof. Once you have submitted the digital nomad visa application form, it will be reviewed by the Portuguese authorities and you will receive a digital nomad visa if approved. If you are granted a digital nomad visa, you will then be able to stay and work in Portugal for up to one year.
How much does it cost to apply for a digital nomad visa?
The digital nomad visa application fee is €30. This fee must be paid before submitting your digital nomad visa application form.
What other digital nomad visas are available in Portugal?
In addition to the digital nomad visa, there is also a digital nomad entrepreneur visa for digital entrepreneurs wanting to start a business in Portugal. This digital nomad visa is designed for digital entrepreneurs who have a digital business idea and the necessary funds to execute their digital business. This digital nomad entrepreneur visa allows digital entrepreneurs to stay and work in Portugal for up to one year with the goal of launching a digital business. The digital nomad entrepreneur visa also provides digital entrepreneurs with digital business support, digital infrastructure, and digital resources.
Is there any support available for digital nomads in Portugal?
Yes, digital nomads in Portugal can access digital nomad support services such as digital nomad housing, digital nomad coworking spaces, digital nomad events, digital nomad forums, and digital startup accelerators. Additionally, digital nomads can access digital nomad discounts, digital nomad insurance, and digital nomad visa perks.
What is the digital nomad lifestyle like in Portugal?
The digital nomad lifestyle in Portugal is an exciting one filled with digital opportunities, digital infrastructure, and digital resources. Digital nomads in Portugal have access to digital nomad coworking spaces, digital nomad events, digital nomad forums, digital startup accelerators and digital nomad discounts. Additionally, digital nomads can explore digital nomad-friendly cities such as Lisbon and Porto. The digital nomad lifestyle in Portugal is a unique and fulfilling one that digital nomads enjoy.
How long is the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa valid?
The digital nomad visa is valid for up to one year. After one year, digital nomads must either reapply for a digital nomad visa or leave the country. Digital nomads can also apply for a digital nomad entrepreneur visa if they are interested in starting a digital business.
Can I extend my Portugal Digital Nomad Visa?
Yes, digital nomads can apply for an extension to their digital nomad visa. To apply for an extension, digital nomads must fill out a digital nomad visa extension form, which must be submitted within 60 days prior to the digital nomad visa expiration date. After submitting the digital nomad visa extension form, digital nomads will receive an extension of their digital nomad visa if approved.
